Iowans aren't buying GOP fear-mongering about immigrants

The latest Iowa Poll reveals most Iowans favor finding a pathway to citizenship for both undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients.
Michael Zamora / The Register

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In this Feb. 9 photo provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE agents visit a home in Atlanta during a targeted enforcement operation aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminals living in the U.S. illegally.
In this Feb. 9, 2017, photo provided U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE agents at a home in Atlanta, during a targeted enforcement operation aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens.(Photo: Bryan Cox, Bryan Cox, AP)

Congressman Steve King sent out a tweet that portrays undocumented immigrants as killers.

“Illegal immigrants are doing what Americans are reluctant to do. We import young men from cultures with 16.74 times the violent death rate as the U.S. … Congress has to KNOW more Americans will die as a result …”

Iowans aren’t buying the fear-mongering. The Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll published Sunday shows a solid majority of Iowans – 65 percent – say it’s a “worthy goal” to provide a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented workers in this country now. Only 26 percent say it’s not a worthy goal.

The poll was published online Saturday, about a half-hour before King sent out that tweet.

The majority that supports a citizenship goal includes 62 percent of poll respondents in King’s heavily Republican district. Only 30 percent in Iowa’s 4th congressional district say a path to citizenship is not a worthy goal.

Finally, we have a semi-satisfying answer to the embarrassing questions Iowans keep hearing from around the country about whether we’re all racists because King keeps getting re-elected.

An even larger majority, 81 percent, say it’s a worthy goal to provide a pathway to citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants who were brought into this country through no fault of their own. That includes 74 percent of Republicans, 83 percent of likely 2020 election voters and even 64 percent of those who say they’ll definitely vote to re-elect President Donald Trump.

It apparently includes Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who tweeted on Saturday: “Bipartisan solution is needed to resolve the DACA issue. Let’s take care of the DACA kids, increase border security & end chain migration and the visa lottery. Do the long time advocates for DACA want certainty for them or use DACA for election fodder?”

Bipartisan solution is needed to resolve the DACA issue. Let’s take care of the DACA kids, increase border security & end chain migration and the visa lottery. Do the long time advocates for DACA want certainty for them or use DACA for election fodder?

DACA, which stands for “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” expires on March 5 unless Congress acts to create legal status for the so-called “dreamers.” Republicans are pushing for a deal that not only increases border security but also curbs legal immigration based on family ties and diversity.

Grassley, to be clear, has not supported a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as adults.

It’s worth noting that the poll of 801 Iowa adults was conducted by Selzer & Co. from Jan. 28-31. That includes the night Trump was on television demonizing undocumented immigrants as murderous criminal gang members and highlighting the tearful victims of some of these crimes.

The new poll, which has a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, comes just as Iowa legislators are deciding whether to advance legislation denying state funding to so-called “sanctuary” cities that don’t comply with federal immigration authorities.

Advocates of the legislation used some of the same tactics as Trump and King, highlighting crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. As sad as these cases are and as much as we empathize with the victims and their families, this sanctuary city bill will not make Iowans safer.

In fact, several chiefs of police testified at a public hearing last week that the proposal would have the opposite effect.

"What I’m concerned about with this type of discussion and this type of legislation is it actually works to diminish public safety in our communities," said Michael Tupper, chief of police in Marshalltown, according to a Register report. "We want to build positive relationships in our community. We want people to trust law enforcement. We want people to cooperate with law enforcement. And legislation such as this serves to cause people to go back into the shadows."

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Members of the public hold signs in opposition to Senate File 481, which seeks to ban so-called sanctuary cities in Iowa.(Photo: Brianne Pfannenstiel/The Register)

Republicans who would advance this sanctuary city bill are not supporting the rule of law. They are kowtowing to what they think their party base believes. This poll should make them think twice about basing their vote on the assumption that Republicans want to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

In fact, a majority of Republicans, 51 percent, say a pathway to citizenship is a worthy goal for undocumented workers. Only 40 percent of Republicans say it’s not a worthy goal. A majority of likely voters, young and older Iowans, Catholics, Protestants, born-again Christians and those with no religion also support a pathway to citizenship.

Some lawmakers who are hoping to bolster their re-election chances by pushing an anti-immigrant agenda may find that voters are ready to deport them from office.

About the poll

The Iowa Poll, conducted January 28-31 for The Des Moines Register and Mediacom by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, is based on telephone interviews with 801 Iowans ages 18 or older. Interviewers with Quantel Research contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell phone numbers supplied by Survey Sampling International. Interviews were administered in English. Responses were adjusted by age and sex to reflect the general population based on recent census data.

Questions based on the sample of 801 Iowa adults have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. This means that if this survey were repeated using the same questions and the same methodology, 19 times out of 20, the findings would not vary from the true population value by more than plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Results based on smaller samples of respondents — such as by gender or age — have a larger margin of error.

Republishing the copyright Iowa Poll without credit to The Des Moines Register and Mediacom is prohibited.